Sports
Sherrone Moore Reacts After Michigan’s Loss to Oklahoma, Bryce Underwood’s First Road Start
Sep
Michigan football suffered its first major test of the season on Saturday night, falling 24-13 to Oklahoma in Week 2’s only ranked matchup. Head coach Sherrone Moore admitted the Wolverines “have to be better” after a frustrating performance that left freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood struggling in his first career road start.
Michigan Struggles in Primetime Matchup
The Wolverines entered Norman knowing adversity was coming. Oklahoma had won 20 straight non-conference home games, and head coach Brent Venables boasted a strong track record against freshman quarterbacks. That trend continued as Michigan’s offense never found consistency.
Michigan finished with just 288 total yards and went 3-for-14 on third downs. Outside of Justice Haynes’ explosive 75-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, the Sooners largely controlled the game in the trenches, holding the Wolverines’ rushing attack in check.
“We didn’t get the rhythm we needed to. Didn’t get the quarterback in the rhythm we needed to,” Moore said postgame. “That’s everybody. That’s not just one person. That’s not just the calls. It’s the execution. We just got to be better.”
Bryce Underwood’s First Road Start
For five-star freshman Bryce Underwood, the night was a steep learning curve. While he managed the atmosphere without turnovers, the Wolverines couldn’t generate explosive plays through the air. Multiple miscommunications in the red zone and missed opportunities kept Michigan from closing the gap late.
Moore emphasized that the pressure wasn’t solely on his young quarterback. “We all got to do our jobs,” he noted. “That’s O-line, that’s receivers, that’s running backs—whoever it is in those situations to make it easier for him.”
Defensive Adjustments and Areas of Growth
Despite the loss, Michigan’s defense made adjustments in the second half, limiting Oklahoma’s scoring chances. Still, Moore admitted tackling and overall execution must improve moving forward.
The Wolverines had chances in the fourth quarter, taking possession twice down 21-13, but managed only 32 yards on 11 plays before Oklahoma sealed the win.
What’s Next for Michigan
Saturday’s result dropped Moore’s overall record at Michigan to 9-6, including a 3-5 mark against ranked opponents. With conference play looming, Michigan will need to sharpen execution on both sides of the ball and get Underwood more comfortable under center if they want to remain contenders in 2025.
